FancyInnovations
FancyHologramsAPIHolograms

Item Holograms

Creating and managing item display holograms

Item holograms display 3D items in the world. They can show any Minecraft item with full support for custom model data, enchantments, and item meta.

Creating an item hologram

Using the builder

The recommended way to create item holograms is using the ItemHologramBuilder:

import de.oliver.fancyholograms.api.data.ItemHologramData;
import de.oliver.fancyholograms.api.data.builder.ItemHologramBuilder;
import de.oliver.fancyholograms.api.hologram.Hologram;
import de.oliver.fancyholograms.api.FancyHolograms;
import org.bukkit.Location;
import org.bukkit.Material;
import org.bukkit.inventory.ItemStack;

Location location = new Location(world, 100, 64, 200);
ItemStack item = new ItemStack(Material.DIAMOND_SWORD);

ItemHologramData data = ItemHologramBuilder.create("my_item_hologram", location)
    .item(item)
    .scale(2.0f)  // Make it larger
    .billboard(Display.Billboard.CENTER)  // Always face player
    .persistent(true)
    .build();

Hologram hologram = FancyHolograms.get().getHologramManager().create(data);
FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry().register(hologram);

Direct instantiation

You can also create ItemHologramData directly:

ItemHologramData data = new ItemHologramData("my_item_hologram", location);
data.setItem(new ItemStack(Material.DIAMOND));
data.setScale(1.5f);

Setting the displayed item

Simple items

// Display a diamond
data.setItem(new ItemStack(Material.DIAMOND));

// Display multiple items (stacks)
data.setItem(new ItemStack(Material.GOLD_INGOT, 64));

// Display armor
data.setItem(new ItemStack(Material.DIAMOND_CHESTPLATE));

// Display tools
data.setItem(new ItemStack(Material.DIAMOND_PICKAXE));

Items with enchantments

ItemStack enchantedSword = new ItemStack(Material.DIAMOND_SWORD);
enchantedSword.addEnchantment(Enchantment.SHARPNESS, 5);
enchantedSword.addEnchantment(Enchantment.FIRE_ASPECT, 2);

data.setItem(enchantedSword);

Items with custom names

ItemStack namedItem = new ItemStack(Material.DIAMOND);
ItemMeta meta = namedItem.getItemMeta();
meta.setDisplayName("§6§lSpecial Diamond");
meta.setLore(Arrays.asList("§7A very special diamond", "§7Worth 1000 coins"));
namedItem.setItemMeta(meta);

data.setItem(namedItem);

Items with custom model data

ItemStack customItem = new ItemStack(Material.STICK);
ItemMeta meta = customItem.getItemMeta();
meta.setCustomModelData(1001);  // Your custom model ID
customItem.setItemMeta(meta);

data.setItem(customItem);

Player heads

ItemStack head = new ItemStack(Material.PLAYER_HEAD);
SkullMeta skullMeta = (SkullMeta) head.getItemMeta();
skullMeta.setOwningPlayer(Bukkit.getOfflinePlayer("Notch"));
head.setItemMeta(skullMeta);

data.setItem(head);

Display properties

Scale

Control the size of the displayed item:

// Default size
data.setScale(1.0f);

// Double size
data.setScale(2.0f);

// Half size
data.setScale(0.5f);

// Giant
data.setScale(5.0f);

// Get current scale
float scale = data.getScale();

Rotation

Rotate the item display:

import org.joml.Vector3f;

// Rotate around Y axis (yaw)
data.setRotation(new Vector3f(0, 45, 0));

// Rotate around X axis (pitch)
data.setRotation(new Vector3f(45, 0, 0));

// Rotate around Z axis (roll)
data.setRotation(new Vector3f(0, 0, 45));

// Complex rotation
data.setRotation(new Vector3f(45, 90, 15));

// Get current rotation
Vector3f rotation = data.getRotation();

Billboard mode

Control how the item faces the player:

import org.bukkit.entity.Display;

// Always face player (recommended for items)
data.setBillboard(Display.Billboard.CENTER);

// Fixed orientation (doesn't rotate)
data.setBillboard(Display.Billboard.FIXED);

// Face player vertically only
data.setBillboard(Display.Billboard.VERTICAL);

// Face player horizontally only
data.setBillboard(Display.Billboard.HORIZONTAL);

Glow effect

Add a glowing outline:

// Enable glow with color
data.setGlowing(true);
data.setGlowColor(ChatColor.GOLD);

// Disable glow
data.setGlowing(false);

// Check if glowing
boolean glowing = data.isGlowing();

Complete examples

Example: Shop item display

public class ShopItemDisplay {

    public Hologram createShopItem(Location location, ItemStack item, int price) {
        ItemHologramData data = ItemHologramBuilder.create(
            "shop_" + item.getType().name().toLowerCase(),
            location
        )
        .item(item)
        .scale(1.5f)
        .billboard(Display.Billboard.CENTER)
        .glowing(true)
        .glowColor(ChatColor.GOLD)
        .persistent(false)  // Temporary display
        .build();

        Hologram hologram = FancyHolograms.get().getHologramManager().create(data);
        FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry().register(hologram);

        // Add price label above
        createPriceLabel(location.clone().add(0, 1, 0), price);

        return hologram;
    }

    private void createPriceLabel(Location location, int price) {
        TextHologramData priceData = TextHologramBuilder.create(
            "price_" + System.currentTimeMillis(),
            location
        )
        .text("<gold>$" + price + "</gold>")
        .scale(0.8f)
        .billboard(Display.Billboard.CENTER)
        .persistent(false)
        .build();

        Hologram priceHologram = FancyHolograms.get().getHologramManager().create(priceData);
        FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry().register(priceHologram);
    }
}

Example: Rotating showcase

public class RotatingShowcase {

    private Hologram itemHologram;
    private float currentRotation = 0;

    public void create(Location location, ItemStack item) {
        ItemHologramData data = ItemHologramBuilder.create("showcase", location)
            .item(item)
            .scale(2.0f)
            .billboard(Display.Billboard.FIXED)  // Fixed so we can rotate it
            .persistent(false)
            .build();

        itemHologram = FancyHolograms.get().getHologramManager().create(data);
        FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry().register(itemHologram);

        // Start rotation task
        startRotation();
    }

    private void startRotation() {
        Bukkit.getScheduler().runTaskTimer(plugin, () -> {
            if (itemHologram == null) return;

            currentRotation += 5;
            if (currentRotation >= 360) currentRotation = 0;

            ItemHologramData data = (ItemHologramData) itemHologram.getData();
            data.setRotation(new Vector3f(0, currentRotation, 0));

            FancyHolograms.get().getHologramController().refreshHologram(itemHologram);

        }, 0L, 1L);  // Update every tick for smooth rotation
    }
}

Example: Achievement display

public class AchievementDisplay {

    public void showAchievement(Player player, String title, ItemStack icon) {
        Location location = player.getEyeLocation().add(0, 1, 0);

        // Create item hologram
        ItemHologramData itemData = ItemHologramBuilder.create(
            "achievement_" + player.getUniqueId(),
            location
        )
        .item(icon)
        .scale(1.0f)
        .billboard(Display.Billboard.CENTER)
        .glowing(true)
        .glowColor(ChatColor.YELLOW)
        .persistent(false)
        .build();

        Hologram itemHologram = FancyHolograms.get().getHologramManager().create(itemData);
        FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry().register(itemHologram);

        // Create title above
        TextHologramData titleData = TextHologramBuilder.create(
            "achievement_title_" + player.getUniqueId(),
            location.clone().add(0, 0.5, 0)
        )
        .text(
            "<yellow><bold>Achievement Unlocked!</bold></yellow>",
            "<gold>" + title + "</gold>"
        )
        .scale(0.7f)
        .billboard(Display.Billboard.CENTER)
        .textShadow(true)
        .persistent(false)
        .build();

        Hologram titleHologram = FancyHolograms.get().getHologramManager().create(titleData);
        FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry().register(titleHologram);

        // Remove after 5 seconds
        Bukkit.getScheduler().runTaskLater(plugin, () -> {
            FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry().unregister(itemHologram);
            FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry().unregister(titleHologram);
        }, 100L);
    }
}

Example: Item pedestal

public class ItemPedestal {

    public void createPedestal(Location location, ItemStack displayItem) {
        // Create base text
        TextHologramData baseData = TextHologramBuilder.create(
            "pedestal_base_" + location.hashCode(),
            location.clone().add(0, -0.5, 0)
        )
        .text(
            "<gray>═══════════</gray>",
            "<dark_gray>Pedestal</dark_gray>",
            "<gray>═══════════</gray>"
        )
        .scale(0.6f)
        .textAlignment(TextDisplay.TextAlignment.CENTER)
        .persistent(true)
        .build();

        // Create item display
        ItemHologramData itemData = ItemHologramBuilder.create(
            "pedestal_item_" + location.hashCode(),
            location
        )
        .item(displayItem)
        .scale(1.5f)
        .billboard(Display.Billboard.CENTER)
        .glowing(true)
        .glowColor(ChatColor.AQUA)
        .persistent(true)
        .build();

        // Create label
        TextHologramData labelData = TextHologramBuilder.create(
            "pedestal_label_" + location.hashCode(),
            location.clone().add(0, 1, 0)
        )
        .text("<aqua>" + getItemDisplayName(displayItem) + "</aqua>")
        .scale(0.8f)
        .textShadow(true)
        .persistent(true)
        .build();

        // Register all
        FancyHolograms api = FancyHolograms.get();
        api.getHologramRegistry().register(api.getHologramManager().create(baseData));
        api.getHologramRegistry().register(api.getHologramManager().create(itemData));
        api.getHologramRegistry().register(api.getHologramManager().create(labelData));
    }

    private String getItemDisplayName(ItemStack item) {
        if (item.hasItemMeta() && item.getItemMeta().hasDisplayName()) {
            return item.getItemMeta().getDisplayName();
        }
        return item.getType().name().replace("_", " ");
    }
}

Example: Floating item with animation

public class FloatingItem {

    private Hologram hologram;
    private double baseY;
    private double offset = 0;

    public void create(Location location, ItemStack item) {
        this.baseY = location.getY();

        ItemHologramData data = ItemHologramBuilder.create(
            "floating_" + System.currentTimeMillis(),
            location
        )
        .item(item)
        .scale(1.2f)
        .billboard(Display.Billboard.CENTER)
        .glowing(true)
        .glowColor(ChatColor.YELLOW)
        .persistent(false)
        .build();

        hologram = FancyHolograms.get().getHologramManager().create(data);
        FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry().register(hologram);

        // Start bobbing animation
        startBobbing();
    }

    private void startBobbing() {
        Bukkit.getScheduler().runTaskTimer(plugin, () -> {
            if (hologram == null) return;

            offset += 0.05;
            double newY = baseY + Math.sin(offset) * 0.3;  // Bob up and down

            Location newLoc = hologram.getData().getLocation().clone();
            newLoc.setY(newY);
            hologram.getData().setLocation(newLoc);

            FancyHolograms.get().getHologramController().refreshHologram(hologram);

        }, 0L, 2L);  // Update every 2 ticks
    }
}

Updating item holograms

Change the displayed item

Hologram hologram = FancyHolograms.get().getHologramRegistry()
    .get("my_item_hologram").orElse(null);

if (hologram != null && hologram.getData() instanceof ItemHologramData itemData) {
    // Change to a different item
    itemData.setItem(new ItemStack(Material.EMERALD));

    // Refresh for all viewers
    FancyHolograms.get().getHologramController().refreshHologram(hologram);
}

Animate item changes

public class ItemCycler {

    private final List<ItemStack> items = Arrays.asList(
        new ItemStack(Material.DIAMOND),
        new ItemStack(Material.EMERALD),
        new ItemStack(Material.GOLD_INGOT),
        new ItemStack(Material.IRON_INGOT)
    );

    private int currentIndex = 0;

    public void startCycling(Hologram hologram) {
        Bukkit.getScheduler().runTaskTimer(plugin, () -> {
            if (!(hologram.getData() instanceof ItemHologramData itemData)) {
                return;
            }

            // Cycle to next item
            currentIndex = (currentIndex + 1) % items.size();
            itemData.setItem(items.get(currentIndex));

            FancyHolograms.get().getHologramController().refreshHologram(hologram);

        }, 0L, 60L);  // Change every 3 seconds
    }
}

Combining with text holograms

Create complete displays by combining item and text holograms:

public void createRewardDisplay(Location location, ItemStack reward, String description) {
    // Item hologram
    ItemHologramData itemData = ItemHologramBuilder.create(
        "reward_item",
        location
    )
    .item(reward)
    .scale(1.5f)
    .billboard(Display.Billboard.CENTER)
    .glowing(true)
    .glowColor(ChatColor.GOLD)
    .build();

    // Title above
    TextHologramData titleData = TextHologramBuilder.create(
        "reward_title",
        location.clone().add(0, 1.5, 0)
    )
    .text("<gold><bold>REWARD</bold></gold>")
    .scale(1.2f)
    .textShadow(true)
    .build();

    // Description below
    TextHologramData descData = TextHologramBuilder.create(
        "reward_desc",
        location.clone().add(0, -0.8, 0)
    )
    .text("<gray>" + description + "</gray>")
    .scale(0.7f)
    .build();

    // Register all
    FancyHolograms api = FancyHolograms.get();
    api.getHologramRegistry().register(api.getHologramManager().create(itemData));
    api.getHologramRegistry().register(api.getHologramManager().create(titleData));
    api.getHologramRegistry().register(api.getHologramManager().create(descData));
}

Text Holograms

Creating and managing text display holograms

Block Holograms

Creating and managing block display holograms

On this page

Creating an item hologram
Using the builder
Direct instantiation
Setting the displayed item
Simple items
Items with enchantments
Items with custom names
Items with custom model data
Player heads
Display properties
Scale
Rotation
Billboard mode
Glow effect
Complete examples
Example: Shop item display
Example: Rotating showcase
Example: Achievement display
Example: Item pedestal
Example: Floating item with animation
Updating item holograms
Change the displayed item
Animate item changes
Combining with text holograms